Dustin Dinoff

The Canadian Television Fund has awarded $99.2 million to further domestic TV production, putting cash into 36 new and returning English-language dramas, handing out 66% of the total dollars requested by broadcasters earlier this year, down slightly from last year’s 75%.

CTV has had five out of its six shows approved, and can now move forward on Alice, I Think and a new run of Corner Gas, among others but received nothing for its new drama Whistler, leaving Canada’s largest network without a Canadian-made one-hour drama for 2005/06. Whistler was meant to replace The Eleventh Hour, which was cancelled earlier this year. Season two of Instant Star is also not on the list because it is not classed as a traditional drama, but will move forward with monies from CTV’s Broadcaster Performance envelope, according to producer Stephen Stohn. Stohn’s Epitome Pictures also produces Degrassi: The Next Generation, which did receive CTF funding and is already in production on its fifth season. The net also got funding for MOWs Doomstown and Last Exit.